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'93 Bandits up for NLL Hall of Fame as a Team

from staff reports

Can a whole team be inducted into the Hall of Fame? The National
Lacrosse League's nominating committee thinks so, as the 1993
Buffalo Bandits were announced among finalists for induction into
the league's 2012 class Monday. It's the first time in NLL
history that a team is among the nominees.

Former Bandits goalie Steve Dietrich and forward Chris Driscoll
are also finalists, along with Pat Coyle, Curt Malawsky and Regy
Thorpe.

The 1993 Bandits were the first and only team in league history
to go through the regular season and playoffs undefeated. The
Bandits went 8-0 in the regular season, outscoring their opponents
143-108. The team followed this feat up by going 2-0 in the
playoffs, including a 13-12 championship game win over a
Philadelphia Wings team that entered the game with a record of 8-1
in the regular season and playoffs.

The 1993 team's roster and staff included five future NLL Hall
of Famers and individuals who continue to have an impact on the NLL
today. The team was coached by the late Les Bartley, who won his
second of seven championships as a head coach that season. Bartley
was inducted posthumously into the NLL Hall of Fame as part of the
Hall's inaugural Class of 2006.

Three of the 1993 Bandits team's players are now in the Hall of
Fame: Current Bandits Head Coach Darris Kilgour, Assistant Coach
Rich Kilgour and Jim Veltman. John Tavares, the league's all-time
leading scorer, was on the 1993 Bandits roster and was named MVP of
the Championship Game. Five of the league's nine current head
coaches were part of the 1993 Bandits team. Toronto's Troy
Cordingley, Colorado's Bob Hamley, Edmonton's Derek Keenan and
Darris Kilgour played on the team. Johnny Mouradian, the team's
general manager, was inducted into the NLL Hall of Fame in
2008.

While current NLL Hall of Fame Rules do not specifically provide
for election of a team, the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee has
put forth their nomination with the understanding that a vote for
the 1993 Bandits is in essence voting for a waiver and/or
modification of the rule. Other halls of fame, such as the Naismith
Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, have recognized entire teams with
induction.